Chessy
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Schulz Gambit
After 1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Nf6, White has a choice to make and you need to know what kind of game you are aiming for. This line is not about grabbing quick equality by force; the position after White’s move already gives White a clear, lasting edge, so your task is to stay accurate and practical. Use the drill below to test whether you can meet the most common tries and keep the game under control.
Play the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Schulz Gambit against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position demands from Black
You are entering a position where White is already better, so your first job is simple: do not make the situation worse. The engine’s best move for White is Nf3, and the listed continuation begins with Nf3 c6 dxc6 Nxc6. That tells you the opening is headed toward development, piece activity, and careful central play rather than a sharp tactical race. As Black, you want to stay alert, develop smoothly, and avoid drifting into passive defence.
What the numbers say
Stockfish rates this +0.70, a clear, lasting advantage for White. That means you are worse here, and you should expect to defend accurately if White knows what they are doing. The database also shows that in 403,332 games at this exact position, White wins 51.2%, draws 3.9%, and Black wins 44.9%. Those figures do not make the position hopeless, but they do show that White reaches a very playable game from this move order.
The most common White choices
The most-played continuation is Nc3 with 293,613 games, where White scores 50.4%. The other major tries are g3 with 25,801 games and White scoring 53.3%, Nf3 with 22,829 games and White scoring 54.8%, e4 with 17,075 games and White scoring 60.1%, d4 with 13,344 games and White scoring 54.7%, and e3 with 8,291 games and White scoring 49.9%. In practical terms, you should expect White to develop naturally and keep options open, so your replies need to be tidy and principled.
The mistakes to punish and the ones to avoid
Two continuations are marked as inaccuracies here. Nc3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; the better move was Nf3. e3 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; the better move was d4. That is useful for training: when White plays one of these slower or less precise moves, you should be ready to meet the position with sound development and not let White’s free edge grow into something bigger.
Results across 403,332 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 293,613 | 50.4% |
| g3 | 25,801 | 53.3% |
| Nf3 | 22,829 | 54.8% |
| e4 | 17,075 | 60.1% |
| d4 | 13,344 | 54.7% |
| e3 | 8,291 | 49.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Schulz Gambit good for Black in the English Opening?
In this exact position, Black does not get the better game. Stockfish gives **+0.70**, which means White has a clear, lasting advantage. Your goal is to play accurately and keep the position manageable rather than expecting an immediate equalising trick.
What is White’s best move after 1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Nf6?
The engine’s best move is **Nf3**. The listed best continuation begins **Nf3 c6 dxc6 Nxc6**, which shows that White can develop smoothly while keeping the pressure on Black’s position.
Which White move is most common in practice?
**Nc3** is by far the most-played continuation, with **293,613** games. White scores **50.4%** there, so you should expect this move often and be ready to handle a natural developing setup.
Which White mistakes should I know in this position?
**Nc3** and **e3** are both marked as inaccuracies. **Nc3** loses about **0.6** pawns and **e3** also loses about **0.6** pawns, so these are the moves where accurate Black play can keep White from turning an already good position into something even easier.
How many games feature the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Schulz Gambit?
Over 403K Lichess games have reached the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Schulz Gambit position. White wins 51.2%, Black wins 44.9%, with 3.9% draws — based on real rated games.